Focus on the Family celebrates Boehner plan to shell out $500K to defend DOMA

Speaker of the House John Boehner has contracted high-profile conservative attorney Paul Clement to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of House of Representatives. Boehner has agreed to pay Clement initially up to $500,000 to defend the law, although analysts say that figure is sure to rise. Colorado Springs Christian right organization Focus on the Family celebrated the arrangement, touting Clement’s resume as one of the nation’s top attorneys.

Montana medical marijuana raid raises huge questions with national implications

When federal agents led a raid on medical marijuana businesses in Montana last week, questions were raised as to whether these businesses were raided because they were suspected of selling out of the proverbial back door to people without medical marijuana permits–or whether they were raided simply for being medical marijuana businesses.

U.S. Attorney memo spells out fed attack on medical marijuana

As people in Montana and beyond struggle to come to grips with a massive federal raid of Montana medical marijuana businesses, the question that comes up is: Were these businesses violating state law that allows medical marijuana, or were they raided because they are in violation of federal law, which prohibits the use and possession of marijuana.

VIDEO: Polis co-sponsors bill that would repeal Defense of Marriage Act

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis joined with more than a hundred members of Congress to re-introduce the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the ban on same-sex marriage put in place by the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Polis urged members of Congress to support New York Rep. Jarred Nadler’s legislation as a matter of fairness and states’ rights.

Polis praises Obama decision on marriage

In response to the Obama Administration’s conclusion that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage (Act) is unconstitutional, Congressman Jared Polis released the following statement.

Colorado rights group celebrates Obama move to back off Defense of Marriage Act

President Obama Wednesday directed Attorney General Eric Holder to stop battling legal attacks on the federal Defense of Marriage Act, saying he believes the Act unconstitutionally discriminates against gay couples. It’s a move many Obama supporters have anticipated for years with diminishing hope as the attorney general’s office fought back a series of challenges to the Act.

Who is Steve King, the man Gardner disinvited to a fundraiser this week?

Steve King is an Iowa Republican Congressman. He was scheduled to host a $100 a plate fundraiser for Fourth Congressional District GOP candidate Cory Gardner this weekend in Hudson but his appearance was canceled after he told G. Gordon…

Polis questions Holder on immigration and marijuana

Colorado Democratic Congressman Jared Polis (CD2) used his first hearing appearance as a member of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday to question U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder about matters close to the heart of Coloradans. He asked about federal…

Obama nominee Kagan has embraced expanded executive authority

Solicitor General Elena Kagan will be President Obama’s second Supreme Court nominee. The emerging conventional wisdom is that Kagan, a rare nominee for the high court who hasn’t been a judge, is a very smart blank slate. On at least one category of issues that Kagan will face — the intersection of national security and law during a time of war — that conventional wisdom looks correct. But there’s a proxy for that set of issues, however inexact, that offers a few clues in advance of her confirmation hearings: Kagan’s deference to executive power.

Validity of Bartkowicz pot bust to undergo first review

Colorado’s medical marijuana chronicles went federal this weekend when the state’s top drug cop, DEA special agent Jeff Sweetin, seemed to directly defy the Attorney General and the Obama administration by raiding a Highlands Ranch home a day after owner Chris Bartkowicz spoke to KUSA-TV 9News about his major basement marijuana grow operation. Bartkowicz showed 9News his medical-marijuana license and the documentation for the people to whom he serves as a caregiver. He said he was “living the dream.”

Sweetin and his agents were apparently embarrassed.